A fire that swept through two derelict houses leaving them unstable is being treated as arson.

Firefighters have confirmed the cause of a fire which broke out in the early hours of yesterday morning (Monday) is believed to be deliberate.

Emergency services were called to tackle a blaze at Kingswoodbury Cottages on the A507 Clothall Road, Baldock at 1.33am.

On arrival, the roof and top floor of the house was well alight. Three crews from Baldock, Letchworth GC and Stevenage tackled the blaze for more than four hours finally putting the fire out by 6am.

The cottages are part of Kingswoodbury Farm, an arable farm owned for the past 23 years by John Cherry.

The site has also been a target for graffiti and fly-tipping.

Mr Cherry said: “Because the fire has caused the roof to collapse the police have got to investigate what is underneath, but the structure of the building is now unstable so no one can get in there.

“Unfortunately because the cottages are on the road they are more vulnerable and it is impossible to keep an eye on them. The police do not seem to be able to do anything.

“Before the fire I was going to offer them out to a builder to build to two new houses, I now wish we had sold them five years ago.”

Investigations are ongoing.